This book provides a quick read for experts, researchers as well as novices in the field of solar collectors and panels research, technology, applications, theory and trends in research. It covers the use of solar panels applications in detail, ranging from lighting to use in solar vehicles.

This book provides a quick read for experts, researchers as well as novices in the field of solar collectors and panels research, technology, applications, theory and trends in research. It covers the use of solar panels applications in detail, ranging from lighting to use in solar vehicles.

Six variations of a do-it-yourself solar collector design were constructed and exposed under stagnation conditions for 1 year; collectors were basically closed boxes without air circulation. Temperature in each collector was recorded throughout the test period and the effect of these temperatures on the wood framing and plywood in the collectors was estimated based on previous studies of effect of high temperature on properties of wood. Visual observations were also made on the wood, paint, insulation, and glazing. Temperatures in the collectors could reduce strength properties of the wood if stagnation conditions were maintained for many years. The maximum stagnation temperatures could result in spontaneous ignition of wood if maintained continuously for long time periods (months, years). Operating temperatures are usually much lower than stagnation temperatures.

Low-Temperature Energy Systems with Applications of Renewable Energy investigates a wide variety of low-temperature energy applications in residential, commercial, institutional, and industrial areas. It addresses the basic principles that form the groundwork for more efficient energy conversion processes and includes detailed practical methods for carrying out these critical processes. This work considers new directions in the engineering use of technical thermodynamics and energy, including more in-depth studies of the use of renewable sources, and includes worked numerical examples, review questions, and practice problems to allow readers to test their own comprehension of the material. With detailed explanations, methods, models, and algorithms, Low-Temperature Energy Systems with Applications of Renewable Energy is a valuable reference for engineers and scientists in the field of renewable energy, as well as energy researchers and academics. - Features end-of chapter review sections with questions and exercises for practical study and utilization. - Presents methods for a great variety of energy applications to improve their energy operations. - Applies real-world data to demonstrate the impact of low-temperature energy systems on renewable energy use today.

This book is intended to provide an engineering point of view and the design tools for low temperature solar collectors, as well as their networks in large solar installations for the integration of solar energy in processing industries. To this end, the book covers the description of existing solar technology, performance enhancement techniques for single units, hydrodynamics and its influence on flow distribution inside tubes, its effect upon thermal efficiency and pressure drop profiles. A detailed graphical description of the thermo-hydraulic behavior using experimentally validated Computational Fluid Dynamics simulations are described. An important contribution is the introduction of the main concepts to design and specify the structure of solar collector networks based on the reconciliation of the thermal and hydraulic lengths. The thermal performance is analyzed as a function of the velocity of the fluid and its relation to the rate of heat transfer. Likewise, velocity is analyzed in connection to the pressure drop. This approach allows the engineer to determine the structure of a solar collector network, which is defined by two parameters: the number of parallel sets of collectors and the number of collectors per set to achieve the process thermal needs at the specified temperature within the limitations of the pressure drop. These tools are put forward within the frame of flexible plant operation.